Very surprising move due to the timing. Will be interested to see how Lovie does in recruiting. Ron Zook put together many great recruiting classes for the Illini during his tenure but couldn't coach nearly as well. It'll be a few years until Illinois can close the gap to the upper strength of the B10.
*reports Lovie Smith’s assistant salary pool at Illinois will be $4 million.*That would be third in the Big Ten based on last year’s salaries, behind only Michigan and Ohio State.
By comparison, Bill Cubit got $2.4 million in assistant salary pool. Illinois will need that extra money if they’re looking to hire coaches away from other jobs at this time of year. But couple this with Smith’s average $3.5 million salary, this is an unprecedented investment in the coaching staff at Illinois.
By comparison, Bill Cubit got $2.4 million in assistant salary pool. Illinois will need that extra money if they’re looking to hire coaches away from other jobs at this time of year. But couple this with Smith’s average $3.5 million salary, this is an unprecedented investment in the coaching staff at Illinois.
I watched the press conference introducing the new coach. The AD went on and on and on and I'm
sitting there saying...WTF. Finally he introduces the new coach.
Mark this post down and in 2 maybe 3 years this (clown) as the AD will be FIRED.
Kinda sad for those wanting something better for Illinois football.
sitting there saying...WTF. Finally he introduces the new coach.
Mark this post down and in 2 maybe 3 years this (clown) as the AD will be FIRED.
Kinda sad for those wanting something better for Illinois football.
Let's not kid ourselves people, it takes one thing above all to have a successful football program: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
This is the first step to doing it, opening the checkbook. Next will need to be the facilities. Lovie is a player's coach and a huge upgrade to guys like Tim Beckman and Bill Cubit who should have a hard time getting an assistant coaching job at a place like Illinois let alone HC.
I wont pretend Illinois has a rich football history but times haven't always been hard. They've been to 2 BCS games including a Rose Bowl with Ron Zook at the helm.
I think this a slam dunk hire. Lovie brings instant credibility to a place that needs it as much as anyone, ESPECIALLY to his most important recruiting grounds in Chicago.
This is the first step to doing it, opening the checkbook. Next will need to be the facilities. Lovie is a player's coach and a huge upgrade to guys like Tim Beckman and Bill Cubit who should have a hard time getting an assistant coaching job at a place like Illinois let alone HC.
I wont pretend Illinois has a rich football history but times haven't always been hard. They've been to 2 BCS games including a Rose Bowl with Ron Zook at the helm.
I think this a slam dunk hire. Lovie brings instant credibility to a place that needs it as much as anyone, ESPECIALLY to his most important recruiting grounds in Chicago.
The name of the game in college football is recruiting good players. Illinois may
just have the worst facilities in the Big Ten and big time recruits ain't going to
commit to the school just because of an NFL coach who has been fired twice.
Nothing against Coach Smith, hope he does well but I don't think he will have
a winning season before being fired or jumping back to the NFL.
Someone please name a handful of former NFL head coaches doing well at the
CFB level?
just have the worst facilities in the Big Ten and big time recruits ain't going to
commit to the school just because of an NFL coach who has been fired twice.
Nothing against Coach Smith, hope he does well but I don't think he will have
a winning season before being fired or jumping back to the NFL.
Someone please name a handful of former NFL head coaches doing well at the
CFB level?
I think we could make this a 50 page thread about the success or failure of Lovie Smith. But the fact is we really don't know what's going to happen. And neither does Illinois. They are taking a shot in the dark because they basically are a poor recruiting program that has few other options left. Based on the staff Lovie is bringing in, they could improve drastically. So the potential is there for him to do a solid job. But it depends on which Lovie Smith shows up. The one that coached Chicago was solid. The one that coached Tampa won't cut the mustard. I'm sure many said that Jim Mora wouldn't work out at UCLA. But so far he is. At least he's much better than the previous hires there. And I believe Jim Harbaugh, like Pete Carroll, is fully capable of coaching at both levels...It's all an individual thing. You can't judge one type of coach by another's success or failure...
Yes you can.......consider the situation.
Nick Saban (Alabama)
Pete Carroll (Southern Cal)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
Lovie Smith (Illinois) give me a break!!
Guarantee you Nick Saban wouldn't have won a national championship or Big Ten title under
the current situation if he had been hired at Illinois.
Nick Saban (Alabama)
Pete Carroll (Southern Cal)
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
Lovie Smith (Illinois) give me a break!!
Guarantee you Nick Saban wouldn't have won a national championship or Big Ten title under
the current situation if he had been hired at Illinois.
